Liquor Policy Scam: Minister Rajesh should be removed and judicial inquiry should be conducted by sitting judge, says Ramesh Chennithala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ramesh Chennithala demanded that Excise Minister MB Rajesh be removed from his position and a judicial inquiry should be conducted by the sitting judge regarding the liquor policy scam.

"The clear corruption behind the change in liquor policy has come to light. The minister, the government and the CPM are now giving illogical reasons. The minister's statement that the government has not yet entered into discussions to change the liquor policy is just an escape ploy."

"Despite the news in the media for the past few days about the changes including the withdrawal of dry day on the first of every month, neither the government nor the minister has denied it. It was also reported that the high-powered committee chaired by the chief secretary had taken a favourable decision regarding the resumption of liquor sales on the first of every month. Still, the minister says that the discussion has not yet started. Actually, the liquor policy should be decided before the start of the respective financial year. It should be suspected that it took so long here because of the delay in getting bribes from the bar owners. The voice message of the bar owner leader strengthens this doubt."

"The government is not only reopening all the bars closed by the UDF government but is also trying to increase the availability of liquor in Kerala by allowing new bars as much as possible," said Ramesh Chennithala.